NHS ‘critical’ (Part II): Almost 6,000 patients for every GP surgery
... as the number of practices falls 6 per cent in 9 years
THE number of GP clinics in Scotland has dropped while patient lists have soared in what is being described as a ‘disaster’ for health services.
In an attack on the SNP’s record in the sector, the Scottish Conservatives yesterday highlighted figures revealing the state of the NHS, including increasing waiting times.
It follows a damning report into the health service that sparked calls for Health Secretary Shona Robison to quit.
Audit Scotland this week warned the nation’s health is ‘not improving’ amid ‘significant challenges’ for GPs, including recruiting and retaining staff, and low morale – as well as increasing waiting times and missed performance targets across the health service.
The agency warned pressures being heaped on the NHS may be starting to affect patient care.
Yesterday, the Scottish Tories highlighted official figures referenced in the report that reveal the number of GP practices in Scotland has fallen by 6 per cent – from 1,027 in 2007 to 963 in 2016.
In the same period, practice lists – the number of patients registered – rose 11.4 per cent on average, from 5,280 to 5,880.
The number of GPs working in Scotland has remained at around 4,900 since 2008, but the Tories have raised concerns that up to 3,000 doctors may have left to work abroad in recent years.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘These figures demonstrate the total failure on health by the Scottish Government, but tragically signal further disaster for primary care.
‘If GPs continue to be driven away from Scotland’s health service, practice lists will continue to grow and patients will have to wait longer for essential treatment. It is no surprise public health isn’t improving and waiting time targets are being missed.’
He urged the Government to commit 11 per cent of all NHS spending directly to GP practices – a key demand of the party’s Save our Surgeries campaign.
Audit Scotland found more people are waiting longer to be seen, and most waiting time targets are not being met. Reforms such as integrating health and social care services are showing progress but more change is needed in areas such as workforce planning and funding to maintain care standards, the report states.
A survey last year by the British Medical Association found more than a third of Scotland’s GPs plan to retire within five years.
Some 6 per cent are planning to move abroad – with the same percentage set to quit medicine.
Dr Alan McDevitt, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee,
‘No surprise public health isn’t improving’ ‘Spiralling demands’
said: ‘Action to support GPs is vital, which is why we have been negotiating a proposed new GP contract with the Scottish Government for some time.
‘Our priority throughout this process is to address the spiralling workload demands on general practice.’
The Scottish Government said it had ‘increased investment in GP services annually since 2007, and is increasing the share of the NHS budget going to primary care in each year of this parliament’.
A spokesman added: ‘In the current year, £71.6million is being invested in direct support of general practice... The overall number of GPs has increased under this Government by 6.9 per cent.’